Pivoted cutter for running yarn line



Nov. 3, 1964 E. T. SAHLIN 3,154,992

PIVOTED CUTTER FOR RUNNING YARN LINE Filed Jan. 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGZ YARN LINE INVENT OR EDWARD THEODORE SAHLIN ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1964 E. 1'. SAHLIN PIVOTED CUTTER FOR RUNNING YARN LINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1962 LLY INVENTOR EDWARD THEODORE SAHLIN United States Patent 3 154 992 Pivorm) crrr'rnn FbR RUNNING YARN LINE Edward Theodore Sahlin, Fair-field Crest, DeL, assignor to E. I. (in Pout tie Nernonrs and Company, Wilmington, Del, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 25, 1962, Ser. No. 168,729 5 Claims. (Cl. 83-587) This invention generally relates to a novel and improved apparatus for catching, cutting, and collecting a running strand, and more particularly to a cutting device which is semi-automatic in operation and which need not be manually reset after each operation. The term strand includes all types of continuous filamentary or fibrous bundles of natural fiber and/or synthetically prepared filamentary material such as yarn, cord, thread, tow, and monofilament.

The tendency in modern textile machinery to combine strand spinning, drawing, and winding in an integrated process has complicated existing strand-handling techniques. This complication specifically arises at the windup end of the machinery where the strand is formed into some suitably shaped package by a batch-type process while the spinning end of the machinery functions for all practical purposes as a continuous process. Whenthe strand package being wound has attained a desired size and weight, it is necessary to cut the running strand, then temporarily divert and dispose of the running end before doifing, and replacing the full package with an empty bobbin or core.

Several methods have been used in the past to perform this operation, one being that the operation was performed by an operator who cut the running strand with a pair of hand shears and manipulated the cut end into an air aspirated string-up device. Another method is disclosed in McDermott, U.S. Patent No. 2,634,491, wherein the moving threadline moves over a rotating roll and is severed by the tip of the aspirating device. With the further tendency toward spinning and winding heavier denier yarn such as tire yarn andwith increasingly higher speeds, the manual cutting of such running strands has become unduly difficult, hazardous, time-consuming, and costly. In addition, the McDerrnott arrangement requires a rotating roll which occupies valuable space in the machine and also becomes hazardous at the higher speed operations unless the operator is quite skilled in manipulating the air aspirator device.

An important object of this invention is to provide a novel assembly having a simple, quick, reliable means to cut a running strand in combination with a means to manipulate a running end of strand into the opening of an air aspirator device. Another object is the provision of an improved cutting device which is semi-automatic in operation and which need not be manually reset after each operation. Still another object is the provision of such an arrangement which protects both operator and machine during the doffing operation.

With these and other objects in view, the apparatus of this invention comprises a cutter element moving relative to a stationary knife element, means for actuating the cutter element, means to restore the cutter element to its initial position, and means to retain the cutter element in its initial position, the apparatus being adapted to cut and divert a running strand into an air aspirator when the aspirator is manually inserted into the apparatus.

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of the cutter apparatus of this invention, with the housing removed and other parts broken away and separated for a clearer showing of the device.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the complete asice sembled cutter apparatus of this invention showing the path of the movingyarn line to be operated on.

FIGURE 3-is a top view partially in section of the apparatus of this invention with a sucker gun tip in place.

The apparatus of this invention as shown generally in FIGURE 2 is rigidly mounted to a spinning machine frame (not shown) upstream of a windup unit and positioned such that a running strand extending to the windup unit passes through a narrow open slot 5 in one end of the apparatus housing. If desired, ceramic guide elements (not shown) may be provided at'either side of slot 5 to minimize damage to a running yarn line in the event misalignment causes the threadline to contact the edges of the slot. The assembly comprises a housing or rectangular tube 27, a stationary knife, a movable cutter, a catch, and a spring tensioned telescoping tubular combination to trigger and reset the cutting mechanism all of which are described in detail below.

Referring to FIGURE 1, one end of a rectangular plate 2 of tool steel is rigidly attached to face 22 of a base element 1 by two socket head'screws (not shown). At the opposite end of plate 2, a sharp edge is formed by the intersection of the lower surface of slot 20 and surface 21 to define a stationary knife. Contiguous to surface 21 of plate 2 and pivoting about a steel pin 10 is a T-shaped cutter element 3. A catch 4 pivots about a steel bushing which is fastened to plate 2 by screw 11. One'horizontal leg portion of cutter element 3 is provided with a sharp edge and operates in combination and cooperation with the stationary knife edge of plate 2. The opposite horizontal leg portion of cutter 3 is engaged and locked in position by a protruding holding lip 81 of catch 4. A vertical'leg portion of cutter 3 is disposed between steel pins 12 and 13 which limit the angular displacement of the cutter about the pin iii. Behind catch 4, block is fastened to surface 21 by two flat head screws. A spring plunger 15, threaded into block 75, contacts the back surface of catch 4 and urges the holding lip against the horizontal leg of cutter 3. Referringto FIGURES 1 and 3, means for actuating and resetting cutter 3 are mounted to face 22 of block 1 parallel and adjacent to plate 2. Tube 6 is attached rigidly at one end to base 1 while the other end is modified by a narrow longitudinal slot opposite surface 21. Telescoped and slidably contained partly within tube 6 is concentric tube 7. The lengthwise sliding action of tube 7 is restrained by a helical compression spring 16 housed coaxially within tube 6 and in abutment with base 1 and the contained end of tube 7. The other end of tube 7, i.e., the and outside of tube 6, is externally threaded and modified by a narrow longitudinal slot oriented opposite surface 21. Constrained within the narrow slot of tube 6, welded perpendicular to the surface of tube 7 is a pin 18 extending lengthwise toward surface 21 and situated in the region between the vertical leg of cutter 3 and a set screw adjusted pin 14 housed in catch 4. Perpendicularly attached to a. concentric cylindrical plug- 8 is a pin 19 which is constrained within the narrow slot of tube 7 and extends lengthwise toward surface 21 contacting the 'side of the vertical leg of cutter 3 opposite to pin 18. A tension spring 17 located inside tube 7 connected at one end to a tang (not shown) on plug 8 and at the other end to a diametrical pin in tube 7 urges plug 8 toward base 1 which, in turn, causes pin 19 to be urged against the vertical leg of cutter 3.

Threadedly attached to the end of tube 7 is a slotted L-shaped reciprocating guide block 9 which is guided for sliding movement inside a square tubular housing 27 which substantially encloses the cutting and triggering mechanism except for one exposed surface of block 9. An open, chamfered, transverse slot 23 in the exposed Patented Nov. 3, 1964.

surface of block 9 is aligned between two narrow slots extending longitudinally on opposing sides of housing 27. A circular through-hole 24, or passageway, with a shallow counterbored cavity 25, intersects slot 23 coaxially with tube 7. Cavity 25 with a fiat shoulder 26 at the bottom is sized to receive a tip of an air aspirated string-up device or sucker gun. The strand entrance opening at the end of the string-up device tip is preferably formed by a protruding ceramic sleeve 28 that contacts the running strand and bottoms against shoulder 26 when the device tip is inserted into cavity 25.

In operation, the apparatus as shown in FIGURES l and 3 is mounted such that a running strand moves from right to left in the chamfer of slot 23. The elongated tip of the string-up device (partly shown in FIGURE 3) is manually inserted into cavity 25 to the extent that sleeve 28 bottoms against shoulder 26 of guide block 9 whereupon the running strand in contact with sleeve 28 is caused to shift toward the base of slot 23. As the guide block 9 is moved inward, by the string-up device, tube 7 is caused to telescope into tube 6 which simultaneously shifts the running strand under cutter 3, compresses spring 16, elongates spring 17, and presses pin 18 against adjusting pin 14. The pulling force exerted by the elongated spring 17 on plug 8 is transferred to pin 19 which in turn accumulates against the vertical leg of cutter 3. Further displacement of guide block 9 causes pin 18 to pivot catch 4, by overcoming spring plunger 15, thus releasing the cutter 3 which has the effect of releasing the accumulated energy in spring 17 which in turn causes the cutter 3 to pivot sharply and shear the running strand. The cut strand end is concomitantly drawn into the air aspirated opening of the string-up device.

As the string-up device is manually removed from the apparatus, compression spring 16 releases its energy and pushes tube 7 back toward its initial position. Simultaneously, pin 18 loses contact with adjusting pin 14 and moves into abutment With the vertical leg of cutter 3 in opposition to pin 19; spring plunger 15 is freed and pivots catch 4 to re-engage cutter 3. When tube 7 has fully retracted, spring 17 force has diminished sufficiently to allow pin 18 to overcome pin 19 and pivot cutter 3 to its initial position. Catch 4 subsequently latches the horizontal leg of cutter 3 in place. The device is then ready for the next cutting operation.

Once the strand is running into the portable air aspirator device, the completed package is stopped, dotted, and replaced with an empty core. ally manipulated to begin the winding of the next package. It is of course obvious that the portable air aspirator device can be used not only for dofiing but for stringup through any apparatus that is desired. Any suitable Then the device is manuair aspirator device can be used. The device of McDermott referred to above could be used if modified to eliminate the flexible resilient conduit between the tip and the main body of the device.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An improved yarn handling mechanism for maintaining a running yarn line in an operative relationship to (l) the inlet end of a portable air-aspirated yarn sucker gun device and (2) a yarn cutter device, and then actuatable for substantially simultaneously cutting the running yarn line and causing the cut end of the incoming yarn line to be inserted into the inlet end of the yarn sucker gun device for tensioning and take-up of the cut end of the incoming yarn line, said mechanism comprising a housing having an open end and an open channel extending through opposite sides of the housing and extending inwardly from the said open end, a movable assembly mounted in said housing and comprising a member slidably mounted in said housing for reciprocation in the direction of the plane defined by the said open channel and perpendicular to said open end and positioned adjacent said open channel and having an open channel coinciding with the open channel of said housing and constructed and arranged to guide and position a yarn line moving therethrough, said member provided with structure defining a recess for engaging, supporting, and for maintaining the inlet end of a portable yarn sucker gun device insertable through said open end in operative association and alignment with and adjacent to a moving yarn line guided in the channel of said member, said assembly and member being movable in said housing from a first position to a third position through a second position by movement of the end of a yarn sucker gun device inserted and engaged in said recess and urged against said structure of said member to displace the same in the housing, a stationary yarn cutter mechanism mounted in said housing in operative relationship adjacent to a moving yarn line guided by said channel in said housing, said cutter mechanism constructed and arranged to cooperate with said movable assembly upon movement thereof so that movement of said assembly from said first position to said second position renders said cutter mechanism operative to cut the yarn line, and movement of the assembly to said third position from said second position actuates the cutter mechanism tocut the yarn line adjacent said area of engagement and support of said open channel, and reset means for returning said assembly and member to said first position which movement renders said cutter mechanism inoperative upon withdrawal of said end of said yarn sucker gun device from said recess.

2. The improved mechanism of claim 1 in which said cutter mechanism comprises a fixed cutter element, a movable cutter element mounted for movement into yarn cutting position, and a latch element adapted to engage and hold said movable cutter element against movement into cutting position, said movable assembly comprising a first abutment means positioned to engage said movable cutter element upon movement of said assembly from its first to its second position and urge said movable cutter element toward yarn cutting position, said movable assembly further comprising a second abutment spaced from said first abutment and positioned to engage and actuate said latch element to release said movable cutter element for movement into yarn cutting position under the urging of said first abutment.

3. The improved mechanism of claim 2 in which said reset means comprises a spring positioned between and in engagement with said assembly and said housing.

4. The improved mechanism of claim 3 in which said cutter mechanism further comprises a resilient means urging said latch element into position to engage and hold said movable cutter element out of yarn cutting position.

5. The improved mechanism of claim 4 in which said first abutment is movably resiliently mounted on said assembly for movement relative to said second abutment.

References Cited in the'iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 686,967 Guett Nov. 19, 1901 

1. AN IMPROVED YARN HANDLING MECHANISM FOR MAINTAINING A RUNNING YARN LINE IN AN OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP TO (1) THE INLET END OF A PORTABLE AIR-ASPIRATED YARN SUCKER GUN DEVICE AND (2) A YARN CUTTER DEVICE, AND THEN ACTUATABLE FOR SUBSTANTIALLY SIMULTANEOUSLY CUTTING THE RUNNING YARN LINE AND CAUSING THE CUT END OF THE INCOMING YARN LINE TO BE INSERTED INTO THE INLET END OF THE YARN SUCKER GUN DIVICE FOR TENSIONING AND TAKE-UP OF THE CUT END OF THE INCOMING YARN LINE, SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING AN OPEN END AND AN OPEN CHANNEL EXTENDING THROUGH OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE HOUSING AND EXTENDING INWARDLY FORM THE SAID OPEN END, A MOVABLE ASSEMBLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING AND COMPRISING A MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING FOR RECIPROCATION IN THE DIRECTION OF THE PLANE DEFINED BY THE SAID OPEN CHANNEL AND PERPENDICULAR TO SAID OPEN AND POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID OPEN CHANNEL AND HAVING AN OPEN CHANNEL COINCIDING WITH THE OPEN CHANNEL OF SAID HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO AND POSITION A YARN LINE MOVING THERETHROUGH, SAID MEMBER PROVIDED WITH STRUCTURE DEFINING A RECESS FOR ENGAGING, SUPPORTING, AND FOR MAINTAINING THE INLET END OF A PORTABLE YARN SUCKER GUN DEVICE INSERTABLE THROUGH SAID OPEN END IN OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION AND ALIGNMENT WITH AND ADJACENT TO A MOVING YARN LINE GUIDED IN THE CHANNEL OF SAID MEMBER, SAID ASSEMBLY AND MEMBER BEING MOVABLE IN SAID HOUSING FROM A FIRST POSITION TO A THIRD POSITION THROUGH A SECOND POSITION BY MOVEMENT OF THE END OF A YARN SUCKER GUN DIVICE INSERTED AND ENGAGED IN SAID RECESS AND URGED AGAINST SAID STRUCTURE OF SAID MEMBER TO DISPLACE THE SAME IN THE HOUSING, A STATIONARY YARN CUTTER MECHANISM MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING IN OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP ADJACENT TO A MOVING YARN LINE GUIDED BY SAID CHANNEL IN SAID HOUSING, SAID CUTTER MECHANISM CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO COOPERATE WITH SAID MOVABLE ASSEMBLY UPON MOVEMENT THEREOF SO THAT MOVEMENT OF SAID ASSEMBLY FROM SAID FIRST POSITION TO SAID SECOND POSITION RENDERS SAID CUTTER MECHANISM OPERATIVE TO CUT THE YARN LINE, AND MOVEMENT OF THE ASSEMBLY TO SAID THIRD POSITION FROM SAID SECOND POSITION ACTUATES THE CUTTER MECHANISM TO CUT THE YARN LINE ADJACENT SAID AREA OF ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT OF SAID OPEN CHANNEL, AND RESET MEANS FOR RETURNING SAID ASSEMBLY AND MEMBER TO SAID FIRST POSITION WHICH MOVEMENT RENDERS SAID CUTTER MECHANISM INOPERATIVE UPON WITHDRAWAL OF SAID END OF SAID YARN SUCKER GUN DEVICE FROM SAID RECESS. 